If you’re looking for reasons why Cody Jinks has accrued such a rabid, dedicated, and wide fan base—including the many who refer to themselves as “Flockers”—it’s because he writes and records songs that feel like they were composed exclusively for them, ripped right out of their personal narratives, with people and characters that feel as familiar as family.

Ahead of the release of Cody Jinks’ latest album Lifers, the title track has materialized on streaming channels and for those who’ve pre-ordered the record. In a similar vein as signature Cody Jinks songs such as “Hippies and Cowboys” and “Cast No Stones,” “Lifers” doesn’t just convey a story—or in this case, a series of them. It speaks to the type of blue collar, hard-nosed, and dedicated lives the the devotees of Cody Jinks lead.

You don’t have to be a poor farmer from Waco, or a moonlighting country singer slinging drinks in Nashville to relate to the dedication to lives and dreams these characters embody in the verses of “Lifers.” It’s the spirit they uphold, and the way Cody Jinks canonizes everyday life that makes the stories so appealing and relatable, and the music something more than just words and song. It imparts spirit and assurance that you’re not the only one out there struggling, yet persevering.

At the same time, this isn’t the pandering and caricaturistic portrayal of work hard/play hard life that often infects the songs on mainstream radio attempting to speak to the common man, but ultimately taking only skin deep observances to the point where the holes in the jeans feel made before they were purchased in the store, and the grit beneath the fingernails has been cleansed away.

And it wouldn’t be a Cody Jinks song if it didn’t sound downright country with little or no wiggle room like “Lifers” does. Similar to the first song we’ve heard from the record, “Must Be The Whiskey,” this is more the singalong style of Cody Jinks song instead of the heartbreaking, songwriting-based approach of songs such as “David” from 2015’s Adobe Sessions, or “No Words” from 2016’s I’m Not The Devil. But there will be plenty of other tracks to punch you in the gut when Lifers is released on July 27th.

In the meantime a song like this is something to crank up this 4th of July week along with other Cody tunes for the “Lifers” of today, and those who’ve gone on. It may be too late to change the name of Cody’s dedicated fans from “Flockers” to “Lifers,” but with Jinks fans, they’re one in the same.

Favorite rock album, or country album? These two songs are not all that country by any measure, and are not up to his standards. I realize Cody has a loyal following, but let’s not let him off the hook here.

That’s what I want to hear! “Must Be The Whiskey” is okay, but this song is exactly what I love about Cody: thoughtful, intelligent lyrics about the simple realities of life, combined with fantastic music and production. Once upon a time, this was common, even run-of-the-mill, in country music. Thank you, Cody Jinks.

Trigger has been preaching it for a while, but if this album doesn’t thrust Cody Jinks into the mainstream ala Chris Stapleton a few years back, I’ll be shocked. I’ve been out of the country for three weeks; work and vacation. And as I wait at the airport for my flight, “Lifers” takes me right back home again. Can’t wait to sit on the patio with my dogs, pour a bourbon and subject my neighbors to more Cody Jinks….they can thank me later…

C O D Y !!!!
Great song!!!
I was at a Rodney Atkins concert tonight and there was a chode with a cowboy hat on and I said to my buddy I’ll bet you a drink if I ask that guy if he knows who Cody Jinks is he does. He DIDN’T. I lost, but I told the guy with the hat “go find this man and his music it’ll change your musical life like it did mine. Give me your address and I’ll buy you a couple of albums of his and have them sent to you so it can change yours too”. I’m sending him Adobe, Devil, and Lifers……On me, because that’s what Cody has done for me. I give back!!

Well- for whatever reason a/the video isn’t displaying for me- is there one there? On my screen there’s just a big blank space- may be something to do with the new lap top and windows 10 which I absolutely hate- but, if Cody Jinks sang it it’s probably good-

I can’t say I don’t agree. The bass is tubby sounding, and probably a bit too loud. The cymbols sounds a bit sizzly and the slide kinda hollow. Adjatives are always a bit subjective when describing sound but that’s what I get. Still a good song that I can enjoy, just a shame that the sound quality seems to be taking a step backwards. Or maybe somethings wrong with this stream, almost sounds like it’s really low res?

Intentional and I like the sonic mix up. Gotta be stressful for these guys/girls to have the pressure of staying relevant while keeping sounds fresh yet true to themselves. This sound does just that to me. The sound is kin to some of his earliest songs if you go all the way back and listen.

Another conversation but this topic is the biggest challenge for Stapleton. He can’t keep releasing the same shit. The Beatles and others mastered it. So far Sturgill takes the crown in this department for this group imo.

There’s nothing fresh about poor production quality, though. This trend is annoying.

Nothing about Cody Jinks’ music benefits from poor production. His voice is too good to have a distracting bass sound. His use of complementary instruments like steel, fiddle, dobro, piano, etc….I don’t want that to be lessened by a muddy bass sound. Who does?

I’m not hearing any production quality issues and I’ve been on the warpath about making bad sounding albums purposefully and unintentionally for years. Also maybe account that the track as posted above is in a Facebook video which means there is going to be some loss compared to a CD or vinyl track.

And while on the subject, the “production” comments are always the worse. I can’t remembered the last major release that didn’t have “production issues” around here. It cracks me up. And I mean every single release. Ill defer to the experts who spend hours upon hours getting these cuts the way they want before releasing.

Unlike the spelling of the word “worst,” production quality is subjective, and not everyone will agree on how something should sound. However, I agree that the production of this (if not to be blamed on the quality of the stream), sounds A LITTLE off. For some people, this is important and worth discussing, regardless of how many hours someone spent mixing this. Does that fact alone automatically make it great and unquestionable? Is sound quality not somewhat important in music? I like a lot of records that I wish were produced / engineered / mixed / mastered differently. It doesn’t take so much away from the artistry and songs in the end, that I can’t still enjoy the music. But it’s great when all the stars align as well.

worse, worst, whatever…ok you got me. Point being those comments are made on EVERY major release. One reading the comments after Purgatory would of thought Sturgill was owner of ‘Deaf Leprosy’ productions (Sailors too for that matter).

Folks are certainly entitled to their own opinion….. my personal belief is these guys/girls are releasing music the way they intend it to sound. Especially the more independent minded artist.

It sounds to me more so like the bass is being played with a pick simply giving it a different sound than what you normally hear. The only production quality I have an issue with, particularly being that I’m a steel player, is the steel in this song. The solo just sounds extremely tinny and thin. Phenomenal playing as usual by Austin Tripp, I’m assuming, but just can’t get on board with the production of the steel.

O.k… but in discussing music and albums, is it really THAT surprising (and annoying for you) that the production / sound of “EVERY” major release comes up? What is an album if not recorded sound? I happen to love how Purgatory sounds and I don’t really care if other people don’t, but I respect their opinions enough not to say that their comments are the worse/st.

Hopefully these two very similar songs (mid tempo rock based songs) were chosen as the two pre releases because they are the two songs on the album that fit this mold…..one that is presumably better at bringing new listeners to the table. Decent songs and hopefully they will grow on me, but Jinks is so much better when he lets his vocals open up and breath more, and when he has a more diverse delivery than the almost mono-tempo, stick right to the rock drum beat and sometimes try to fit one too many words into a bar – style in these two songs.

I wish I could listen to this in higher quality; it’s hard to tell if it’s just the production quality or low bit rate that is making it sound the way it’s sounding to me. Sounds a little tinny, and like there’s almost a half-baked reverb effect? I think it’s just the video itself, and it likely won’t be indicative of what I’ll get off the CD. Great song, though. Going to buy this record when it comes out.

I’m a big Deryl Dodd fan. He’s got a song called “When she Drinks, She Thinks I’m Cody Jinks.” Courtney Patton sings harmony. It’s pretty funny, with an awesome “I Dream of Genie” reference that the old schoolers will enjoy.. Found it on spotify

To all the people that I guess don’t work an do nothing but get on here and just find someone to bitch about. If you have that many problems with it don’t listen to it. Cody jinks is one of the best no mainstream people here. His last two releases I have read nothing but d- bag complaints about some of the dumbest shit possible. You are the ones that put Luke Bryant Jason “tone deff” Aldean way up there and chilled out country music. So bottom line if all you want to do is bitch. Don’t listen

I’m pretty sure he’s been doing Country for awhile…lol Midland and Darius Rucker weren’t in metal bands. It’s meaningless comparison anyway. He’s not like them and THEY aren’t even like each other. Aaron Lewis was in a metal band and I was as well. So what. Is it written somewhere you can’t like more than one type of music? Or as a musician you can’t change course if something doesn’t feel right. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe if he hadn’t done that we wouldn’t have what he is now. If he ever feels like making another metal album that’s fine too. I’m sure he won’t. It’d be hard trying to save 2 genre’s.